Backstage Details On Why WWE Chose New Orleans For WrestleMania 34

Why is the Showcase of the Immortals heading back to the Superdome?

by Andy H Murray
WrestleMania 34
WWE.com

WWE stormed Louisiana by holding Monday Night Raw in New Orleans and SmackDown Live in Baton Rouge this week, but the real invasion takes place in 2018. As announced at a press conference earlier this week, WrestleMania 34 will broadcast live from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on Sunday, April 8.

It'll be the second time WWE have taken their flagship pay-per-view to New Orleans, but why are they heading back to the Superdome? Dave Meltzer noted on an episode of Wrestling Observer Radio earlier this week that it's all thinks to a big push from city officials.

New Orleans officials reportedly wanted WrestleMania back in their city as part of the city's tricentennial. The city will celebrate its 300th birthday in 2018, and this cross-promotional opportunity was enough to convince WWE to bring the Showcase of the Immortals back to Louisiana.

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Meltzer noted that as many as 15 other cities were in the running (including Philadelphia and St. Louis), but none could offer what New Orleans could. The last time WWE's biggest show was in New Orleans was WrestleMania 30, when Daniel Bryan became WWE Champion and The Undertaker's Streak was broken: if WWE can repeat that level of excitement in 2018, WM34 will be a big hit.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.